Archive for the ‘Employment’ Category
Social Networking Site Connecting People with Disabilities to Gainful Employment
Innovative technology has lead to the partnering of GettingHired.com and the U.S. Business Leadership Network to promote employment of qualified job seekers with disabilities. This is a free service for job seekers.
GettingHired.com is a social networking community established to connect people with disabilities with potential employers and mentors. GettingHired.com contains accessible tools that will aid in connecting the nation’s reported 22.3 million working age people with disabilities with peers, employers, advocacy organizations as well as service providers.
According to GettingHired.com, no person is ever asked to disclose their disability either.
Again while there are many online job boards for those seeking employment, this is the first one that I’ve run across that is specifically geared towards those people with disabilities. Thumbs up to GettingHired.com!
Free Seminar about Self-Employment for People with Disabilities
On Thursday, May 28, the AgrAbility Project will present a free online seminar about self-employment for people with disabilities. The seminar will cover topics like the pros and cons of self-employment, how to determine if self-employment is right for you, how to explore self-employment through the Vocational Rehabilitation system, and much more.
The seminar will be presented by Steve Swain, the National AgrAbility Project’s Assistive Technology Specialist. The seminar will be followed by a Q&A period.
AgrAbility Self-Employment Seminar Thursday, May 28 Starting 3:00 pm EDT The event is free, but registration is required.
To take part in the seminar, send an email to agrability@agrability.org with the word “Webinar” in the subject line, and you will be sent instructions by May 27.
The deadline for registration is May 22. For more information, contact AgrAbility at 1-800-825-4264.
Self-Employment & Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities
An Introduction to Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities
Date: May 28, 2009
Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT; 2:00 p.m. CDT; 1:00 p.m. MDT; 12:00 p.m. PDT
To participate in this free webinar, email agrability@agrability.org by May 22 and simply put the word “Webinar” in the subject line. Instructions for accessing the session will be sent to registrants by May 27.
Nineteen years after the passage of the ADA, a large percentage of people with disabilities remain unemployed. However, self-employment offers a viable option for those who have entrepreneurial leanings. Join the National AgrAbility Project for this free webinar that explores such topics as:
- What are the pros and cons of self-employment for people with disabilities?
- Who is best suited for taking on the challenge of self-employment, and what types of evaluation instruments can help with that determination?
- How should self-employment be explored via the Vocational Rehabilitation system and other means?
Our Presenter: Steve Swain is the National AgrAbility Project’s Assistive Technology Specialist and a RESNA-certified Assistive Technology Professional. He has guided many consumers through Indiana’s Vocational Rehabilitation Small Business Enterprise Program and will share his experiences and advice.
A question and answer period will follow the presentation. Feel free to pass on this invitation to others you believe may be interested.
Contact AgrAbility at 800-825-4264 if you have questions.
Indiana Employment Statistics for those with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Labor recently released the first official employment statistics about people with disabilities. As of February 2009, the unemployment rate of people with disabilities was 14 percent, compared with 8.7 percent of persons without disabilities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Sparked by the overall increase in the nation’s unemployment rates, the department’s Office of Disabilitiy Employment Policy (ODEP) will now update and publish the data monthly.
The employment population ratio for people with disabilities was 19.8 percent, compared with 64.8 percent for people without disabilities. The employment population ratio shows the proportion of employed individuals to the total number of civilians 16 years or older not living in institutions.
“Americans with disabilities typically experience similiar employment difficulties-even when there is a robust economy,” said John Davey, deputy assistant secretary for ODEP. “The economic downturn may just exacerbate their struggle.”
Vocational Rehabilitation Support Employment
As a part of a multi year monitoring rotation the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is reviewing the Vocational Rehabilitation, Supported Employment and Independent Living Programs administered by the Indiana Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS).
If you are a person with a disability or a family member of a person who has used Indiana’s Vocational Rehabilitation services, the RSA would like you to share your experiences with the program, both positive and negative.
Send your information as soon as possible to Mr. Terry Martin at the RSA: Terry Martin Technical Assistance Specialist U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration 550 12th Street, SW, Room 5012 Washington, DC 20202-2800 Phone: 202-245-7275 Fax: 202-245-7590 Email: Terrence.Martin@ed.gov
For more information about the RSA including information on monitoring please visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/index.html
